Positively Tuesday- October is Confused

      Last year this week, DH, pup, and I spent the week at the lake for our fall retreat. I can't even really say get away. We have a week off in November but not sure what we'll do-maybe the same again. Maybe it will be a project week. It got down right hot yesterday. I was baking in the car in my way home from the office. No windy cold fall for us yet-October is more confused than September was so far. Well, I know it's Tuesday as I have that swirly feeling in my stomachs. To counter, here's my weekly recap of the joys, smiles, and simple pleasures of recent days. 

1. 
   Had a good time shopping with my daughter on Friday night. Since we're both bucking fast fashion and weren't in thrifting mode, we got our shopping therapy in grocery stores. I bought seasonal items for the college kid and she got new cinnamon brooms.
2. We bought the 10 pound bag of basmati rice in a bag that is reusable. It will be a good produce bag. Probably old school to most of you, but it made me smile. 
   
3. We had samosas outside the Indian grocer/ take out. The sweet dip they serve it with cut the heat if the spicy potato filling. We really enjoy the grocery store and the take out side. 
4. My daughters dentist added oral surgery to their clinic and it looks like she'll both be able to have two implants done in town and with no greater out of pocket. It's still astronomical but the last place she got a quote from were rude and condescending. She has liked this dental office.
5. My brother's party was a lot of fun and he was surprised. Food was good though the frozen chicken on uncooperating coals  delayed eating a bit. My Sloppy Joe's were devoured. 
6. We saw the first pops of color driving north. I'm not sure we'll get the vibrancy of years past because of the unusually warm fall, but I love the change of color..
7. Loved seeing our college kid and loved the concert. Double joys. Hearing the concert live was a triple joy-despite DH not being pleased with the mask I had for him. He felt it was triple thick, but the same kind I wear all the time. 
8. Had a texting conversation with our son on way home. He's working pretty steady and was going to be out of town a few days. His latest conversation was to make sure we don't have money with Bank of America as he thinks their about to tank.
9. I had my flu shot yesterday. If it cuts my risk at all, I'm good with it.
10. My daughter joined me for a walk with pup and a thrown together meal from refrigerator leftovers and odds and ends. It was a nice way to start the week. 

     The day in the office helped me see a plan for the move at the end of the year, and I am less overwhelmed thinking about it. We'll need everyone though to have a few days in office  packing up and labeling  shared file cabinets, most of which  contain documents that no one will ever need to see, but need to be kept for auditing purposes through a certain date. DH worked later last night and I had already crawled in bed, though wasn't quite asleep. I over did packing and moving boxes and was spent. I'm up and ready to go now though. The last two days I've splurged on take out coffee. It feels good to be drinking coffee made in my own kitchen in a favorite mug. I guess I am truly getting used to working from home. I hope your week brought you  some simple pleasures. Feel free to share in the comments.

Latest Life's Little Luxuries

Since I basically menu planned yesterday, looking to squeeze every morsel out of my March grocery budget, I thought today I should move away from my whole  tightwaddery topic. I like nice things as much as the next person. I just find them nicer, and I appreciate them more when I don't have them all the time, or use as part of downtime. Despite my penny pinching,  even in the last three months, I've splurged on a few things that give me a sense of indulgence, and dare I say perhaps luxury. Some might think these are fool hardy expenditures and others might laugh that I call them indulgences. But to each of us, we have our own inner definition of luxury and indulgence. We only have to feed our own taste. 

Nourishing facial masks: These two beauties were bought for $2.49 each at Target and are single use. I splurge at least once a month on these after discovering them in one of the Fab, Fit, Fun boxes. While  the Target ones are not even close to the retail price of the brand  in the subscription box, these are pretty darn close to the same quality. I like the quiet time while it sits on my face and the softness it leaves behind. 

Tresemme Shampoo and Conditioner: Now I an really showing my lack of upper class style, but  we have now started to buy Tresemme at over $5 a container compared to shampoos 1/3  to 1/2 less and I am not going back. Some say shampoo is just the same, and conditioner is not needed, but I would disagree. I try to get on sale, or at least when  at Target I can get the extra gift card for future use. It reminds me of the same quality of my Nexus days, when my Father-in-law the Barber, would get us ample supplies. I mistakenly was buying cheap shampoo for too long, and my lifeless hair was not happy. Would I start buying product in salons? Perhaps more luxury than this thrifty person could take.

Lindor Truffles: I've been savoring these since Christmas as I got a bag from my future niece-in-law as part of my gift. We had so much candy and treats for a month after, I didn't even break into these until February. They are nearly gone now, and I plan to replace, keep in the refrigerator and enjoy one every now and then and feel like I've actually had a treat instead of mindlessly popping various miniatures into my mouth, because that's what I do with an open bag of Reeses Peanut Butter cups. 

Fresh ground coffee and real cream: Coffee drinkers, do I need to say any more? I just realized I haven't been out for coffee at all this month yet, but my home grounds have been keeping me quite satisfied. 

Candle light from a good quality candle: This one is Garden Flowers scent and soy, so will not leave a stinky after burning smell. I actually bought this a while back on my sisters shopping day at a pop up barn craft/consignment shop only open a few weekends a year. It was a luxurious bargain at $10 for a homemade candle. Give me a quiet night watching a good movie, enjoying a glass of wine with a candle burning  and I say it is a good night.

Avocados-all to myself: I did not grow up eating avocados. This was not an item my mom ever would have bought, or known what to do with. I think I had guacamole for the first time after high school. Most often these babies run upwards of $2.49 a piece in my part of the country. However, despite the relatively high price point, indulging in these on occasion, more often if they are on sale, feels decadent, while being healthy. The environmental impact helps me keep my indulgence focused on occasion as well since they consume a lot of water to grow and must be transported. Maybe it's the pretty staged avocado toast pictures displayed in magazines, but I get a sense of luxury when eating on for breakfast or lunch, and not sharing with anyone. 

Goodness. I am a real suburban/small town bumpkin. Still, if these are the things that add a little spot of decadence in my life, I'm not complaining that they are simpler than other folks definition. How about you? What do you occasionally  indulge in? Have you changed to a more expensive, but one you feel is worth the added expense, product?  Does anyone have some extra truffles and coffee brewed and want to invite me over to talk about this? 

Tis the season-Thinking Ahead to Home Made Gifts

I have nothing in the craft department.  I probably would sew my sleeve into the garment I was trying to make if attempting to use a sewing machine.  My attempts at crochet and knitting ended in piles frayed yarn, only a kitten could love.  But I can cook.  I can bake, and I can make delicious holiday signature treats that my family, friends, neighbors and coworkers look forward to each year.  While it is too early to start making most of these, I do start  organizing my schedule a bit and try and declutter some room on pantry shelves for extra supplies, and try to keep freezer and fridge in check so once the  appliances get revved up I have some place to store.

I'll share recipes over the next few weeks, and link them via the recipe page.  Here is list of what I will be making.  I assemble little candy package for coworkers, small treat plates for neighbors, and big platters for family do's.  For friends, I usually have the mini loaves of bread, along with a treat plate.  I use the same presentation for hostess gifts as well.

Oreo Truffles:  Similar treats are anywhere from $2.50 to $3.00 in specialty candy stores. I can make three dozen for the cost of a small 4 piece box from Godiva.  Here is a link to the Kraft web site, my original recipe.  I have modified and adapted a little for size, and chocolate levels as well as outside final presentation. Oreo Truffles Now, with all the variety of Oreo cookies there are, you can add mint and strawberry variation.  I haven't done strawberry but my niece did mint last year and they were quite tasty.  One thing I highly suggest not skimping on though is in using real chocolate.  I like to use semi-sweet chocolate chips because they melt really easy, and to keep thin enough to coat, a tiny bit of shortening helps.  Don't be lured into using the bricks of chocolate flavored almond bark coating.  I feel it takes away from the whole quality of the candy if you skimp on the final chocolate.

 Nutter Butter Truffle: Same recipe but I use; you guessed it, nutter butter cookies.  Last year though I couldn't find them, and substituted Target Market Pantry Peanut Butter Sandwich cookies, and the truffle was just as tasty. 

Mars Bars: This was a new one for me last year, and was worried it wasn't going to be worth the sticky mess.  No need to worry as I had raves about them.  I might get really crazy and try making Almond Joy-using of course, an almond on each bar, and dipping in milk rather than the semi-sweet chocolate.

Puppy Chow: Cereal drizzled with chocolate and peanut butter, shaken in confectioners’ sugar, and served by the bowlful.  What's not to love?  Dollar store holiday zip lock bag make cute and sealable packaging, or if you have kids to help let them get to work decorating bags with sharpie markers.

Popcorn Ball Ornaments: Use your favorite popcorn ball recipe, but as you are rolling, include some small gum drops in the ball to add color and sparked from the sugar.  Wrap individually in plastic wrap, and loop a ribbon so they can be hung from a little tree as part edible decoration.

 A variation on this is to mix the popcorn ball "stuff" with the gum drops, and press into a lightly buttered and dusted with powdered sugar, angel food pan.  It looks like a wreath when you pop it out of the cake pan.  You can press more and larger gum drops onto the side and top for more color.  To serve, just slice with a sharp knife.  As long as you don't overcook the sugar mix, it should stay soft enough to not just crack and crumble when you cut.

Gingerbread Men:  I love my big 5 inch cookie cut out, but I also have a traditional 2 inch size one.  It is cute to make a large one, surrounded him on a plate with smaller ones.  I cheat with my dough and usually by a mix, or really cheat and buy premade sheets.  Yes, not low cost, but these are just so cute and I sometimes just plain run out of time to mix up and wait for the dough to be the right roll out temperature. 

Pumpkin Bread:  Of course I use my 1987 OSEL cookbook recipe, and bake in my little pans.  A ribbon wrapped around it and voila Christmas bread.

Kit Kat Bars:  This homemade bar recipe makes a big pan, but then they are cut smallish because they are so rich.  The layers look complex, but really they're simple.  My sister- in-law got me started on these.  I don't bring to that side of the family because she does-no competing intended!
 
None of these in and of themselves scream Christmas, so good options to use other times of the year.  In our multi-cultural society, these are nice treats to just share and appreciate all the people that have meaning in your life as we say goodbye to 2014.  How about you?  Do you have go to treats, or are you the crafter or sewer in your circle of friends and family?  If so, I'd love a nice handmade scarf and mittens please.